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                         March 8, 2002

AAFES issues hazardous recall for Whirlpool dehumidifiers

DALLAS -- The Army and Air Force Exchange, in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, and Whirlpool Corp., of Benton Harbor, Mich., is voluntarily recalling about 1.4 million dehumidifiers. The dehumidifiers can overheat, posing a fire hazard.

Whirlpool has received 13 reports of the dehumidifiers overheating and causing fires, three of which resulted in extensive property damage. No injuries have been reported.

The recalled dehumidifiers were sold under the Whirlpool, Kenmore and ComfortAire brand names. The dehumidifiers are white plastic, about 2-feet high and have a front-mounted water bucket. They have serial numbers that begin with QG, QH, QJ, QK or QL. The serial number can be found on a label located on the wall behind the water bucket. The serial number can also be found on the white tag on the box of the dehumidifiers. Dehumidifiers with water buckets located in back are not involved in the recall.

AAFES, along with department and appliance stores nationwide, sold the dehumidifiers from

February 1997 through December 2001.

"Customers who own one of these dehumidifiers should stop using them and unplug them immediately," said Pradip V. Mehta, Chief of AAFES Quality Assurance.

Customers living in CONUS should contact Whirlpool to arrange for a free repair at (866) 640-7139 anytime or visit the firm’s web site at www.repair.whirlpool.com.

Overseas customers should contact Whirlpool at their web site at www.repair.whirlpool.com. or they can contact local Whirlpool service representative. Local exchanges can assist in locating the Whirlpool service representative